Modi promises tight security for IPL

Lalit Modi on Tuesday assured there is no threat to the conduct of the second edition of IPL in the wake of the terror attack in Pakistan.

Written by Press Trust of India

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New Delhi:

Indian Premier League commissioner Lalit Modi on Tuesday assured there is no threat to the conduct of the second edition of IPL in the wake of the terror attack in Pakistan, saying strict and tight security measures would be in place to ensure cricketers' safety.

Atleast six Sri Lankan cricketers, including Kumar Sangakkara, Ajantha Mendis and Thilan Samaraweera, were injured when 12 masked gunmen attacked the security personnel escorting them to the Gaddafi stadium where the second Test was going on.

However, Modi said there is no threat to the IPL and the Indian government and Indian board is well prepared.

"India is a safe country, yes we had our share of attacks in the past but we are going to ensure that as far as security of the players are concerned, we will leave no stones unturned and going to be extremely strict and tight in our security measures," Modi said.

"We have taken into account possibilities of this type of situation arising, there is a security plan. There is a remote chance that this may happen in any sports but we are prepared for any eventualities.

"We are making sure that we are on top of it on a day to day basis. The Indian government is serious about security and so are the other governments, so for us it is a major issue," he added.

Modi said it was a sad day for world sport.

"We were apprehensive they (Sri Lanka players) may be targeted and we have seen that happening in other sports as well. It is a very sad day for world cricket that cricketers have been targeted in Pakistan," he said.

BCCI CAO Ratnakar Shetty also expressed shock and anguish at the terror attack.

"We are shocked. It is for the first time ever that cricketers have been attacked and victimised by terrorists and the first reaction is of shock and sorrow because it will have a great impact on the game itself," he said.